C.P. approves making offer for farmland
Bond would cover only land, not sportsplex construction

CROWN POINT | Breyfogle Farm could be a link between northern and southern Crown Point, city officials say.

The City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to make an offer on two of the three Breyfogle Farm properties off Old Merrillville Road during its meeting Monday night.

The land is zoned industrial and located in an economic revitalization area. Crown Point likely would transform the larger 57.8-acre parcel into the city's new sportsplex, while the smaller 8.8-acre property would be saved for the future expansion of Crown Point's wastewater utility plant.
"I'm not wild for that to be developed in an industrial fashion," Councilman Bob Corbin said. "It would increase truck traffic down that street."

Under the agreements, Crown Point's wastewater utility would be authorized to offer no more than $277,687 for the 8.8-acre parcel across the street from its existing plant. It would be paid out of the wastewater utility fund, City Attorney Rich Wolter said.

The 57.8-acre parcel would cost the city up to $1.82 million, Mayor Dan Klein said.

Taxpayers would foot the bill for the larger parcel in the form of a 20-year bond. Klein said it would cost a family with a $175,000 home an extra $17.79 a year on its tax bill. That amounts to $355.80 over the life of the bond.

That bond covers only the land purchase and would not pay for the construction of any of the buildings or other improvements that would need to be done for a sportsplex.

Corbin said he would prefer the property be paid for from tax increment financing district dollars. The farm is not located within the district, but could be added, he said.

Corbin said the per-acre price of the property is well below what neighboring properties have sold for.

Democratic mayoral candidate Dave Uran said he was in favor of a sportsplex, but asked the council to think about the impact it could have on the community in light of a possible 1 percent local option income tax and unknown tax levy.